O'Keeffe, Sinéad ORCID: 0000-0003-3077-1044, O'Connor, Siobhán ORCID: 0000-0002-2001-0746, Campbell, Mark ORCID: 0000-0001-9607-7675 and Ní Chéilleachair, Niamh ORCID: 0000-0001-7545-0258 (2023) A qualitative examination of factors inhibiting and facilitating professional mental health help-seeking following Injury in sub-elite club Gaelic footballers. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology . ISSN 1612-197X
Abstract
Mental health issues are common in Gaelic footballers, with injury significantly increasing the risk of experiencing symptoms of a common mental disorder. However, professional help-seeking is not common in athletes, with a preference for informal help sources who may be untrained and inexperienced to provide help and support. Participation at the sub-elite, or club, level represents the broadest playing population in Gaelic football and therefore, the current study aimed to examine the barriers and facilitators to professional mental health help-seeking among sub-elite adult Gaelic footballers. Male (n=14) and female (n=13) sub-elite Gaelic footballers with a history of injury participated in a focus group. Focus groups were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Education, the attitudes, actions and opinions of others and accessibility were perceived as key barriers and facilitators to help-seeking among sub-elite Gaelic footballers. Negative self-attitudes to help-seeking and characteristics of the professional help-provider were identified as additional barriers. Interventions aimed at reducing identified barriers must be introduced and professional mental health help-seeking facilitated to ensure Gaelic footballers are managing their mental health post-injury.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article (Published) |
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Refereed: | Yes |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Injury psychology; GAA; Recreational players; Barriers; Education |
Subjects: | Medical Sciences > Mental health Medical Sciences > Performance |
DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Health and Human Performance |
Publisher: | Routledge (Taylor & Francis) |
Official URL: | https://doi.org/ |
Copyright Information: | © 2023 Taylor & Francis |
Funders: | Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands-Midwest Seed Funding. |
ID Code: | 29463 |
Deposited On: | 19 Jan 2024 10:00 by Sinead O'keeffe . Last Modified 24 Jan 2024 14:28 |
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